Jade One: Wilhelm's Haven's flying laboratory conquers the world!

Jade One: Wilhelm's Haven's flying laboratory conquers the world!

With its flying laboratory “Jade One”, the Jade University in Wilhelmshaven has launched an extraordinary project that is very popular in the international research world. The aircraft, purchased in 2019, is one of only five in the world and is used to scientifically measure environmentally relevant values. With special external measuring containers on the wings, the university is able to collect data on various parameters during its research flights. These flights have already taken the team to Australia, Brazil and England, which impressively demonstrates the scope and flexibility of the project. As nwzonline.de reports, the measuring containers for flights outside Europe are even dismantled and mounted on identical aircraft, which greatly increases the efficiency of use.

In addition to the state-of-the-art technicians at Jade University, lecturer Martin Kumm is significantly involved in the development of some of the technology in the measuring container, which was developed during his master's thesis. The university even uses workshops to get prospective students excited about aeronautical engineering and to introduce them to innovative approaches. “Jade One” offers a maximum flight duration of seven hours, although longer tours are rare. What's exciting is the fact that there is no air conditioning on the plane, which can quickly become a challenge given the temperatures. However, just in case the aircraft is designed so that it can land safely in the event of an engine failure.

The importance of aviation research

Research in aviation is of great importance not only for the Jade University, but also for Germany as a whole. The Federal Ministry of Economics points out that the federal government has been supporting the aviation industry since 1995 with the help of the aviation research program Climate (LuFo Klima). The aim is to develop technologies for climate-neutral and environmentally friendly aviation that will be ready for use by 2035 at the latest. In addition, these technologies must reach the necessary maturity by 2028 in order to meet the requirements of the market. The initiative promotes the development of emission-free technologies to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, as bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de explains.

The aviation research program is divided into research associations consisting of industry, universities and research institutions. This closer cooperation promotes Germany's competitiveness in the aviation industry. For example, LuFo VII, launching in April 2024, highlights innovative technologies for climate-neutral medium-haul flights. The focus is on the development of hydrogen drive systems that are intended to exclude fossil-free energy sources in the long term.

A symbol of innovation

A special aspect of the “Jade One” research flight is the mascot “Wolle”, a plush toy that flies on all trips. This small detail brings a human touch to the technical world of aviation research and shows that the team also attaches great importance to team spirit and creativity. In addition, Jade University is proud to offer its students practical training in areas such as acoustics, measurement technology and thermal building physics, as emphasized on jade-hs.de.

Overall, the Jade University with its flying laboratory shows how advanced research and practical training can go hand in hand to respond to the challenges of the future. The combination of science and real application opens up new perspectives and makes a decisive contribution to overcoming the challenges of climate change.